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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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Mission in Libya: The U.S.’s Low Profile Leadership

A recent China Review News article analyzed the style the U.S. has demonstrated in the Libyan mission, calling its new strategy “low profile leadership.” Although the U.S. did not decide the timing, lead the attacks, articulate the goal of the mission, or ask for an increase in its military budget, the article disagreed with the opinion that this shows a decline in U.S. power. Instead the author believed this was just a change in leadership style, with the goal of improving the U.S. image, lowering “the cost of managing the world,” and leaving more room for diplomacy.
Source: China Review News, March 25, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1016/3/9/4/101639494.html?coluid=5&kindid=24&docid=101639494&mdate=0325142517
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Scholar Rebuts CASS’s Report on the Middle Class

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) recently issued a report claiming that the size of China’s middle class stands at a quarter of the population and is growing at the rate of one percent per year.

Cheng Xiaonong, a U.S. based China expert, commented that “The concept of ‘middle class’ is borrowed from the West. There is a serious problem with using it in China. … The government willfully categorizes some people as middle class, which then becomes a banner for the government to tout its achievements. Government think tanks such as CASS then begin to dance with the government, using a variety of statistical indicators to put people into the bucket of the so-called middle class. If you look at public opinion, most Chinese people do not consider themselves to be middle class.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, March 26, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhong-03262011011353.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Report Shows Housing Demolition and Anti-Corruption Drew the Most Attention Online

On March 24, 2011, IRI Consulting Group, a research institute affiliated with the Communication University of China, issued an Internet Real time Public Opinion Index (IRI) report. The report revealed that land confiscation and housing demolition, anti-corruption, and the image of the police are the three issues that have drawn the most attention from Chinese Internet users.

The report said, “2008 was the first year for the Internet to touch on political issues; 2009 saw a fast growth in public opinion; 2010 was the year of microblogging in China.” Faced with the fast growth and spread of cyber public opinion, government bodies and officials have started to use microblogs as a tool to deal with the public. Microblogs have grown to be the third most popular Internet opinion source following news and online forums. 

Source: Xinhua, March 24, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-03/24/c_121227816.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Huanqiu: Foreign Media Always Make Low Class Mistakes

An opinion article published on the website of Huanqiu, a bi-lingual newspaper owned by People’s Daily, complained about Western media’s coverage of China’s Jasmine Revolution.

Without giving details, the article claimed it had received tips from Internet users that the photos that some foreign media recently used on China’s Jasmine revolution came from unrelated events in the past. The author criticized the reporting as “unprofessional” and full of “hostility.” “The Majority of Western media portray China as awkward, lacking transparency, and always on guard against other countries. They are spreading a big lie." It also questioned why China gets the most criticism and is labeled a “totalitarian regime.” The article concluded, “Let me say something. … China’s Internet users understand many languages. They like politics, debate, and make good observations. No foreign media will get away with spreading rumors about China.”

Source: Huanqiu, March 26, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-03/1589974.html

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

GAPP’s 100-Day Campaign to “Rectify” News Reporters

The General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP), the Chinese government agency overseeing news media, will carry out a nationwide “100-Day Action” from April 15 to July 25 to “review and rectify the order of news reporters’ stations and centers.” The campaign aims to “ban reporter stations that are set up illegally, suspend stations that break the rules, rectify stations that are not managed by the standard, re-register all reporter stations across the nation, provide assurance for normal interview activities, and put the management of reporter stations in good order.”

Source: Xinhua, March 24, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-03/24/c_121228460.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Book Review, 20 Years after the Disintegration of the Communist Party of Soviet Union

Xinhua recently published a review of the new book, Preparing for Danger in Times of Safety, 20 Years after the Disintegration of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, written by Li Shengming, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In the book, the author summarized the five reasons for the Soviet Union’s collapse: 1) Negating the Party’s leaders and the Party’s history; 2) Betraying Marxism and Leninism and losing the correct theoretical guidance; 3) Corrupt personal conduct of the Party members, who cut themselves off from the masses; 4) Appointing Party cadres in serious violation of Marxism and Leninism; 5) Serious betrayal of the Marxist principle of Party development and changing the Party’s color. 

Source: Xinhua, March 24, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-03/24/c_121228155.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Youth Online: In the Eyes of the Hegemonies, There Is Only a Crime against Western Interests

A commentary on China Youth Online condemns Western countries’ military actions as “destroying oil pipe lines, killing civilians, and leaving Libya’s situation even more unstable. Peace loving people around the world profoundly realize that, in the eyes of the hegemonies, there is only a ‘crime against Western interests.’” It concludes, “Although Libya declared a cease fire immediately and expressed willingness to have a dialogue, the Western countries nonetheless conspired to pass the United Nations’ ‘no fly zone resolution’ and immediately started military intervention. Surpassing the United Nations’ authorization and arbitrarily interfering in other country’s internal affairs completely violates the UN Charter. Although they wave the banner of ‘protecting human rights and civilians,’ these are only excuses for consolidating their economic and political interests. Although these ‘hegemonic bullies’ discussed the ‘crimes’ of Qaddafi, to Western interests it is simply a ‘crime of obstruction.’”
[Ed: China Youth Online is a website under the Central Committee of the Chinese Youth League, the Chinese Communist organization for youth between the ages of 14 and 28.]

Source: China Youth Online, March 24, 2011
http://news.youth.cn/sz/201103/t20110324_1525317.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations